What you can do when you have this visa

stay in Australia indefinitely
work and study
enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare
sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
travel to and from Australia for 5 years
apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

Your visa may have conditions. To see your conditions use VEVO.

What you must do on this visa

You and your family members must obey all Australian laws.

Tell us if things change

Things you need to let us know about include:

passport
change of address

See what to do if your situation changes

See how long you can stay

This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

Travelling on your visa

You can travel to and from Australia for 5 years from the date we grant the visa. After 5 years you will need a Resident Return (RRV) visa subclass (155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident. To see when the 5 years ends, use VEVO.

New Zealand passport holders

If an immigration officer processes your clearance at our border, we recommend you tell them:

you have a Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
you do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444)

If you don't tell them, you might be granted a subclass 444 visa. Grant of a subclass 444 visa will cease your permanent visa, which will then affect your eligibility for Australian citizenship.

Proving you have a visa

To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO

Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.

Working

You are protected by Australian workplace law. See your workplace rights and entitlements.

Bringing family

As an Australian permanent resident, you might be able to sponsor eligible family to come to Australia.

To find a visa for your family member, explore visa options.

Becoming an Australian citizen

After a certain time, you might be eligible for Australian citizenship. Find out more about becoming a citizen.